Choosing your perfect tour type.We offer just about every type of adventure imaginable. Explore with other likeminded travellers on our organised group tours, alternatively try a private departure or talk to our tailormade team if you want more flexibility.

Explore the world with your family.Our Explore family adventure holidays are designed for families looking for a fun and memorable holiday, allowing you to explore exotic and unique destinations, with all of the logistics taken care of.

The one stop shop for all things special. Keep up to date with our latest special offers, promotions and incentives. Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about great new tours, competitions, special offers and other exclusive deals. Sign up now!

Welcome to Explore - The Adventure Travel Experts.Explore has been running small group responsible adventures for nearly 35 years so you can be confident that you are in safe hands. Browse to find out more about Explore, our staff, tour leaders and values.

Yangtze River Cruise

On this fast paced tour we explore China's main highlights. From the Great Wall and sprawling Forbidden City in Beijing and Xian's Terracotta Army to the loveable giant pandas in Chengdu. We cruise on the Yangtse River through the three gorges and relax in quiet Yangshuo before heading to the neon lights of Shanghai.

Tour Highlights

Beijing - Walk through Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City. Walk on the Great Wall at Mutianyu

Xian -Meet the Terracotta Warriors and explore the Muslim Quarter

Yangtse Cruise - Float along the Yangtse River on a 5 star cruise ship

Yangshuo - Cruise on the Li River and see classic Chinese limestone scenery

Itinerary

1

Join tour in Beijing

Our tour begins today in Beijing. After a briefing with the Tour Leader the rest of the day is left free to relax after the flight.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
None

2

Take a walk on the Great Wall

Today we drive out to a renovated part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, situated 90km north of the city. Began in the 3rd century BC by Shi Huangdi, thousands of conscripted workers laboured on it and many lie buried in its brick and stone ramparts. It is incredible to think that this wall spans the entire country! Here there is a 2km section to walk along with watchtowers and views of the surrounding countryside. En route we may also get to visit a cloisonné workshop where you can see examples of this ancient metal-working technique.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

3

Discover the Forbidden City; sleeper train to Xian

Beijing is China’s capital and its political and cultural centre. The city has been the capital for most of the period since Kublai Khan made it the capital of his mighty Asian Empire in the late 1200s. All clocks in this vast country are set by Beijing time despite the westernmost regions being some 5000kms away. After walking through the infamous Tiananmen Square we shall visit the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors and a treasure trove of eastern wares. In the late afternoon we transfer to the train station where we board our sleeper train for Xian.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

4

Explore the Muslim Quarter of Xian

We arrive in Xian this morning and after taking breakfast at the hotel we begin to explore. Xian (Changan) served 11 dynasties and was the very starting point of the Silk Road between Central Asia and Europe. Its ancient monuments include the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (64m, a 7-storey high structure with a superb overview of the city) and the Great Mosque, a wonderful 15th century working mosque within the old Muslim Hui District, which we include in our sightseeing tour. The afternoon is free but highly recommended is an optional visit to the Shaanxi National Museum which takes us through a million years of Chinese history.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

5

Meet the famous Terracotta Warriors. Fly to Chengdu

Today we visit one of the highlights of any visit to China – the magnificent Terracotta Warriors and Horses who guard the Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb. There are literally thousands of lifesize warriors, dating from 200BC. This dramatic find of the 1970s is considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the century. We should have time to stop at the on-site factory to see how the warriors are made today. In the late afternoon we transfer to the airport for the short flight to Chengdu.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

6

Visit the Panda Research Centre. Train to Chongqing

This morning we drive to the Panda Research Centre to see the animal synonymous with China. Operational since 1990, the centre covers an area of some 92 acres and is home to a many Giant Pandas, who roam in their large leafy enclosures. The ultimate aim of the centre is to reintroduce Giant Pandas back into the wild, in such numbers as to ensure their survival, and the centre's nursery has enjoyed a success rate with new-born pandas over the past few years that has been quite extraordinary. After our visit we will return to the city and transfer to the local railway station for the train to Chongqing.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

7

Board a cruise boat on the Yangtse River

This morning we visit the cliff sculptures at Baoding Shan (Precious Summit Hill). It is fascinating to wander beside the many brightly painted images carved into the rock face, amongst the most impressive of which is an enormous reclining Buddha, 31m long and 5m high! We then drive to Chongqing where we join our riverboat for a two and a half day cruise along the Yangtse River. The longest river in China, it runs through nine provinces forming a delta in the south which has attracted a very high population density to the region. In addition, the river flows through important industrial centres which form the economic heart of China. We travel on board a four star cruise boat fully equipped with two berth air-conditioned cabins. Our boat carries approximately 150 passengers with your fellow travellers likely to come from a variety of different countries.

Overnight: Standard Boat

Included Meals:
Breakfast

8

Sail down the Yangtse and visit the Ghost City of Fengdu

After our first night on board we arrive at the Temple of Fengdu, for an opportunity to explore the town.

Overnight: Standard Boat

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

9

Take a small boat through Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges

Our journey will take us 193km through the 'Three Gorges', each one spectacular in its own way. We start our journey into the gorges on the second day. The first is Bellows Gorge (Qutang Xia) which is only 8 km long. This was always considered a treacherous but necessary part of the river for it was the only way to reach Sichuan province from the eastern lowlands which are surrounded by impassable mountains. After passing through Bellows Gorge, we enter Wu gorge and travel up Shennong stream to admire smaller gorges. Wu gorge is 40km long and it follows a relatively calm stretch of river. Surrounded by hazy mountain peaks, this mystical section of the Yangtse is steeped in legend. Finally, the third gorge we travel through is Xiling Gorge which is actually comprised of several smaller gorges along a 78km stretch, a smaller motorised boat for lesser gorges. Finally we descend via a series of locks through the dam itself.

Overnight: Standard Boat

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

10

Disembark and fly to Guilin

In the morning we disembark and drive to take a tour of the dam itself and learn about this amazing project, one of the great engineering wonders of the world. We then continue our cruise to Yichang where we disembark for our flight to Guilin.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

11

Sail down the Li River to Yangshuo

After breakfast we head to the Bamboo Reed Dock where we board our boat on the Li River and cruise to Yangshuo. Lunch is taken aboard the boat during the journey as we pass along the most scenic stretch of the river. We will pass paddy fields, villages and stunning limestone scenery en route. An afternoon arrival in Yangshuo offers the opportunity to explore this laid back town. During this free time you may wish to take one of the optional bike rides or walks in the surrounding villages. Alternatively you could head to one of the many limestone pinnacles around the town, the best known being the Moon Hill.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

12

A free day to explore the relaxed town of Yangshuo

Yangshuo has a lot to offer so the day is left free for you to explore at your own pace. You can walk into the surrounding karst summits or hire a bike and cycle through country back lanes. Alternatively, you can soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside town. You may want to practice your bartering skills in the local market - selling batiks and silk paintings, or you may be tempted to buy a 'Little Red Book'. This evening you may choose to go to an amazing sound and light show (optional).

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

13

Fly to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai

Departing Yangshuo we drive to Guilin where we board a flight to Shanghai. Shanghai is one of Asia's most vibrant and dynamic cities. It began as a fishing village in the 11th century, but after the end of the first opium war and of the five newly opened treaty ports Shanghai soon became the most cosmopolitan city, with Asian, Russian, European and Jewish influences. Here were cabarets and ballrooms, fine shops and satirical newspapers, and with such style and influence Shanghai was dubbed the 'Paris of the Orient'. Today its elegant past is still noticeable as you walk down 'the Bund'. This wide avenue is a good place to start to get to know the city.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

14

Visit Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple and walk the Bund

Today we make a city sightseeing tour to visit the famous Jade Buddha temple with its white jade statues, continuing on to the 16th Century Yu Yuan Gardens. We also visit the museum which houses some very good examples of Ming pottery. In the evening you may wish to see the city's world famous troupe of acrobats (optional).

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

15

Tour ends in Shanghai

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Treasures of China tour available at present.